Trudeau’s Liberals Appear To Have Won Canadian Election – Is Marijuana Legalization Next?

According to multiple media reports the Liberal Party in Canada appears to have won a strong plurality of seats, and maybe even a majority, in the federal elections that are wrapping up across Canada right now. Justin Trudeau, party leader for the Liberal Party, has been projected as the next Prime Minister of Canada. If the math stays true, this could be a HUGE victory for marijuana reform efforts in Canada. Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party has stated many times that it will make marijuana legalization a priority. They recently released the following press release outlining the party’s policy position on marijuana:

We will legalize, regulate, and restrict access to marijuana.

Canada’s current system of marijuana prohibition does not work. It does not prevent young people from using marijuana and too many Canadians end up with criminal records for possessing small amounts of the drug.

Arresting and prosecuting these offenses is expensive for our criminal justice system. It traps too many Canadians in the criminal justice system for minor, non-violent offenses. At the same time, the proceeds from the illegal drug trade support organized crime and greater threats to public safety, like human trafficking and hard drugs.

To ensure that we keep marijuana out of the hands of children, and the profits out of the hands of criminals, we will legalize, regulate, and restrict access to marijuana.

We will remove marijuana consumption and incidental possession from the Criminal Code, and create new, stronger laws to punish more severely those who provide it to minors, those who operate a motor vehicle while under its influence, and those who sell it outside of the new regulatory framework.

We will create a federal/provincial/territorial task force, and with input from experts in public health, substance abuse, and law enforcement, will design a new system of strict marijuana sales and distribution, with appropriate federal and provincial excise taxes applied.

Tom Angell from the Marijuana Majority had the following to say (please donate to Marijuana Majority, they are super awesome!!!!):

“While U.S. states led the way by becoming the first places in the world to legalize and regulate marijuana in 2012, it looks like Canada could soon leapfrog ahead of us and become the first country in North America to legalize cannabis nationwide. If that happens, it’s not only good news for Canadians who will be able to purchase marijuana from legal and regulated storefronts instead of being treated like criminals. It’s also likely to give reform efforts in the U.S. a bit of a boost — not that we really needed it, but a little friendly competition is always a good motivator. And legalization in Canada is also a first step to all kinds of interesting implications, like the prospect of President Obama’s successor discussing international marijuana trade issues with his or her Canadian counterpart in the not-too-distant future. It’s no longer a pipe dream to imagine a day when consumers and growers in Washington State and British Columbia, for example, could be ordering each other’s wares on the Internet for cross-border shipment.”

They won a majority too. That’s really good news. Legalization is very likely now.

Billy Higgins

“it’s going to take a year or two to kick in,” Trudeau said on Wednesday night in Surrey, B.C.

By then it’ll almost time for Canada to vote him back out.

stellarvoyager

Great news! I hope that this is indicative of a larger trend throughout North America. Congratulations to Mr. Trudeau and the Canadian people.

skoallio

First of all, Project Sam HAS A CHAPTER IN CANADA!!! You cant win a debate against them. Theyre too sophisticated for any marijuana activist to handle. They got fancy pretty charts, you dont. For anyone calling me a troll, look what happened with Jimmy Carter endorsing SAM.

saynotohypocrisy

What do you mean? The Liberals won a majority, their platform is crystal clear that they will legalize, regulate and tax cannabis. Dumb Approaches to Marijuana can’t do a thing about it.

Billy Higgins

it’s going to take a year or two to kick in,” Trudeau said on Wednesday night in Surrey, B.C.

saynotohypocrisy

The light at the end of Canada’s tunnel is shining bright and clear, troll.

Billy Higgins

Been 4 months and hes said himself its years away….. Troll….

saynotohypocrisy

During the campaign he said he didn’t know whether whether it would be a few month or a year. A year is not that unreasonable since he needs to get the provinces as much on board as possible, and he needs to set up a legal distribution scheme, and to finesse the UN bureaucrats. There’s a big UN meeting on the drug war this summer, I’m very interested in seeing what role Canada plays.
I haven’t heard of Canadian reformers getting on his case.

What is your deal with black people and Project SAM?
SAM is joke that uses lies to promote their agenda.

Of course a dumb racist like you thinks they have something to say.

jontomas

This is incredible news. The fraudulent U.S. federal prohibition is already on the ropes. It would have gotten a knock-out punch by the California-led legalization in 2016, but we may not have to wait for that now!

Jordan Shorette

good job Canada! I love stealing CTV with my bunny ears in New York! haha

Curtman

This was a great victory for Canada! We said no to division and fear! You can do it too America!

doc

Be careful what u ask for. This will all be just big money grab. Read it well…

U will not be able to grow and heavy fines/etc. for d.u.i.

We all seem to get moral (booze/gambling) once the “government” becomes our barometer.

I suggest a 20 mature indoor max op. Any overage may be sold to coffee shop with a tax #.
D.U.I must be handled different than booze. Maybe video can help. Kind of do an N.F.L. concussion test…Still, Adios harper….Just my thoughts.

saynotohypocrisy

Where does it say you will not be able to grow your own? I don’t think that issue has been addressed. I guess the Liberals will be under heavy pressure from both sides on that issue, but if they want to prevent people from having criminal records over nothing, they’ll allow people to grow their own.
And I’m not sure the Canada courts would stand for a law allowing you to buy it but not grow it yourself, they tend to be protective of individual rights.

Billy Higgins

He mentioned more than once he won’t allow unlicensed grow ops.

saynotohypocrisy

Grow op usually refers to commercial growing, doesn’t it?

Billy Higgins

No it refers to any organized grow….

AntiIgnorant

Our northern neighbor just might lead the way for North America on cannabis reform and end FAILED, morally corrupt prohibition! Great news. If California pulls off legalization in 2016, rapid adoption will spread here too!

The Truth

This is a huge win for the cannabis movement. The momentum has picked up and hopefully this Canadian win will help speed the process of restoring american’s liberty to partake. I would be interesting to know how great of effect Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party’s stance on legalization helped propel the victories. Our 2016 candidates better take notice!

Will

Well, it didnt affect much of the traditionnal vote (older people), but it made young people (who were usually not voting) go out and vote for him. In fact, he didnt base his campaign on legaliation, he almost never talked about it, but it seems it gave him the edge to go win the election.

Billy Higgins

He told before the vote, it won’t be legalized for years at best…. Big win for Canada…… moron voters.

It makes for more sense to have legislators craft laws than citizens. Here in the States, we’ve had to do as best we’re able by initiative what our elected “representatives” won’t do (yet) – and we’ve ended up with regulations with glaring weaknesses. Big surprise. I bet Trudeau’s party will do a much better job with giving non-homeowners and visitors (and residents) places to imbibe publicly, for example.

Billy Higgins

Nope, eh already told you guys he won’t be legalizing for years. Shoulda paid attention. He’s legalization is decriminilaztion which the ndp promised the day after elections. Poopdoh already said it will take years and will limited availability.

Not to mention it will be well under 20% thc content like medical herb the government is dishing out now is. Street pot is 25%+…..

And thing of smokes, i can pay 10$ for a legal pack or 2$ for a blackmarket pack…

So under that system…… 50$ a gram can be expected for store prices for the few select stores allowed to sell.

Well though out vote…. Especially when you’ll be taxed so heavily elsewhere you won’t be able to afford that overpriced sub par quality pot.

But hey you won!

Antoine Bastien-Porlier

You ,sir ,have no idea what you are talking about. They are launching a public debate on the question on how the country should legalize the drug. All the things you are mentionning haven’t been confirmed by anything or anyone. 50$ a gram? Really? The whole purpose of legalizing the drug is to destroy the underground market, that’s not a wise way to do it.

The whole purpose was to grab a hefty chunk of the youth vote…and surprisingly, a not insignificant number of seniors..when his prospects weren’t assured and every vote for the Libs counted.

Justin will not give up this gift; while we might get decriminalization for posession of small quantities, he’ll drag his feet on legalization with public debates, studies, legislative commissions and whatnots and then, it will be time for the next election, when he’ll dangle the promise again.

With the grip the corporate beast has on our laws and its ownership of or our govts , it is very likely mr.big will continue to demonize and outlaw our friend mary jane. This plant is a threat to the ultra riches national interests and I know the back room shady deals or threats of blackmail will leave this plant illegal somemore

hardedge

Never going to happen he just sucked the votes right out of all the pot smokers well played Trudeau